“A blessing in disguise”: 10 FJ readers on handling redundancy

“It felt like the universe gave me the push I needed.”

If you’re lucky, your career will follow a fairly straightforward trajectory: start a new job, work your way up with a promotion or two, and eventually, when you’re ready, you’ll move on to another company. Few people typically plan or account for redundancies.

Unlike being fired, redundancies happen when your job is no longer deemed ‘viable’. It can be due to a variety of reasons, like when a business closes down or restructures. Or when a new type of technology is introduced (like AI).

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It can happen with a little or a lot of warning, regardless of whether you’re doing a great job or not, and happens across industries, from media and fashion to tech and finance.

Though it can be disorienting and daunting, in some cases, it might also be a “blessing in disguise.” Below, 10 Fashion Journal readers walk us through their experiences of being made redundant.

Sasha*, 28, she/her

A year ago, I was made redundant from my design position at my agency due to financial problems within the business. A month prior, we had our first redundancy, so it wasn’t a huge surprise when I received an email scheduling a ‘meeting’ in 24 hours. I knew immediately I was next.

I had mixed emotions. I hadn’t been happy there for a while and had been looking for other opportunities, so I was relieved to be released but the financial uncertainty was frightening.

I took a couple of weeks to reset and try and enjoy this forced break. From there, I would ‘clock in’ and spend my day writing cover letters, scouring job listings and putting myself through humiliation rituals on LinkedIn by reaching out to everyone under the sun. It took me seven months before I finally secured my current job.

There were some highs but a lot of lows. Every day was a battle to combat the feelings of shame and worthlessness that come with redundancy. Having to try and reassure yourself that your value is not determined by this and that you will be employed again (no matter how much it doesn’t feel like it) is exhausting. But trust me, it will happen.

Phoebe*, 29, she/her

I was made redundant three weeks after starting my ‘dream job’ back in 2023. I was poached for this role, so I took it hard. Multiple people from the team were all made redundant on the same day, the reasoning being budget cuts and loss of clients, and no income coming in. My redundancy meeting was through Zoom, so I was alone when I got the news. Then I had to go the following day to return all my belongings and have a meeting with the founder and HR (in their only meeting room, which was in the middle of the office and had glass walls so everyone could see in and out).

I was frustrated and confused more than anything. I’d only been there for less than a month, so I didn’t know anyone well enough to talk to. I ended up taking a few weeks off, but panic mode soon set in and I applied for multiple roles.

Jia*, 25, she/her

I was lucky enough to get into my first big girl fashion job at 23, at one of the country’s largest fashion retailers. I was a design assistant (DA) for one of their labels, and there was a restructure across all the brands to reduce the quantity of DA’s per department and to bring in some new roles (which basically did the same tasks plus a bit more). I was there for just under a year, so naturally, they kept the DA who had more experience than I did.

There was an emergency meeting the day before where I watched the CEO go through a PowerPoint explaining that the design department would be cut in half. I had a gut feeling I was being let go, and the next day it was confirmed.

Naturally, I ran outside and called my mum crying. My manager was great through the whole process and let me go home early, but I was honestly relieved. It was the kind of corporate design environment that people stayed in for 10-plus years, climbing the ladder, hoping for recognition. I wasn’t happy there, so I was glad the decision was made for me.

It took me eight months to find a job. It was extremely difficult as I had just less than a year of industry experience but I applied for everything. I was on my final straw and almost booked a one-way ticket overseas, but ended up meeting my future employer at an event, and she told me to send over my portfolio. I got the job and I’m a DA for a much smaller company where I feel valued and get to dip my toes in new tasks every day.

Funnily enough, I went to a psychic who said the number three when I asked when I’ll find a new job. She thought this was in three months, but it was actually the third day of the third month the next year.

Kye*, 26, she/her

It’s happened to me twice! The first was in April 2025 due to minimal cash flow and some clients scaling back in the PR agency I worked at. Then again in April 2026 at another agency due to a restructuring of the business.

The first time I was shocked to say the least and I couldn’t stop crying. The second time was a big knock to the head, though I was a little more accepting of it. The first instance, I went to stay with my parents while job hunting online. I had a holiday booked to Paris so that still went ahead. The second time, I stayed in Melbourne, job hunted and lived life as normal. I’ve bounced back and have a new job now, so fingers crossed!

Maria*, 33, she/her

My position was affected on November 25 and I negotiated to stay until March 26. I was asked to interview internally for two other positions and even though I’d had nothing but positive feedback during my time there, I was told: “There isn’t a place for you here anymore”. I’ve since heard of many people complaining that they don’t have anyone to do all the work I was previously doing.

I felt scared and betrayed because I was lied to throughout the process, but part of me felt relieved that I didn’t have to work there anymore. It took me nine months to land this job when I first moved to Melbourne, so to be back in such a volatile job market after only 18 months was a nightmare. I’ve been job hunting for seven months with no success.

Also, because of my redundancy package, I’m not eligible for jobseeker because I have too much in savings. I thought maybe this was my chance to buy a home, but now I’ll be spending it all on rent and groceries until I qualify for Centrelink, which will only pay $700 a fortnight. It’s a joke. Job hunting is a humiliation ritual and redundancies in the current job market bring so much stress, especially as a single woman.

Lavinia*, 27, she/her

I was made redundant in 2025. The company had about four other rounds of redundancies before mine, so I felt like it was about time. I had a Teams invite from People and Culture and got a call from the director of the department. I knew from there where the conversation was heading.

I had mixed feelings. I wanted to leave for the longest time but never did, so it felt like the universe gave me the push I needed. In saying that, I was nervous and scared because I was losing stability and entering a period of uncertainty. I chilled for a bit as my payout was pretty good, and worked freelance until I felt pressured to find a full-time role.

Divya*, 32, she/her

I was made redundant one and a half years ago due to a restructure in the business. I was offered an alternate role I could either accept or I could take the redundancy and walk away immediately. I was told face to face in a one-on-one meeting that was popped in my calendar the day before as a ‘Team Update Catch-up’. I was in complete shock and devastated as i actually thought I was going to be promoted walking into that meeting… I was in tears after and called my manager, who helped me through it.

I accepted the alternate role as I was desperately in need of a job at the time and thought it was worth giving it a go. After ten months, I realised I wasn’t happy, so I left for another job. Redundancies are hard to navigate but sometimes they can be a blessing in disguise.

Joy*, 24, she/her

I was made redundant about a week ago. I work at a small marketing agency and we lost some clients, which meant my role wasn’t viable. I was only there for three months and was halfway through my probation period. I saw it coming – I hated who I worked for but loved what I did, so I felt mixed about it.

I finish up in two weeks and I’m currently fixing my portfolio. I’ve got a bunch of jobs saved but when I moved to Melbourne, it took me three months to find this job, so I’m scared about how long I’ll be unemployed for.

Tess*, 23, she/her

My redundancy wasn’t a single conversation, it was a slow burn. I had taken three months of approved medical leave to undergo treatment for my chronic illness, with the full support of both my medical team and my employer. When I returned, I was told that my role was no longer needed and I was offered a customer service position. Feeling financially vulnerable and unsure of my options, I took it. I was computer-based, so I requested to work from home one day a week to help manage my chronic illness. That was refused, and the situation quickly escalated, with the company involving lawyers, forcing me to seek legal advice myself. As the brand had fewer than 15 employees, they were able to make my role redundant under small business provisions.

Eventually, I reached a point where I simply couldn’t cope with the situation anymore. Despite repeatedly asking for my redundancy to be provided in writing, it never was. Instead, I was continually encouraged to attend meetings in person or discuss matters over the phone, leaving me feeling overwhelmed and without a clear paper trail. The emotional toll of navigating the process while managing a chronic illness became too much, and I ultimately decided to walk away and accept the redundancy.

The silver lining came a few months later when I found my dream role with another fashion label. I now work 100 per cent remotely alongside an incredible team across Australia, the UK and the US. From day one, I’ve been trusted, supported and judged on the quality of my work rather than where I do it.

Experiencing these two workplaces back-to-back has shown me just how differently employers can approach disability and chronic illness. One saw flexibility as impossible; the other has built a thriving international business around trust and remote collaboration.

Jessie*, 37, she/her

I was made redundant in April 2025. There was a build up the D-Day of about three months. It was nerve-racking, and the actual day was really emotional! Initially, I was sad but with time, I realised I needed to get out of there and never would have left of my own accord. It was the push I needed.

I ended up getting a career coach because I wanted to change industries. The pivot landed me a job in a new sector and also filled me with confidence to do my own thing. Don’t take it personally – listen and take steps to grow.

Find more stories on redundancy here.